Apparatus for rolling seamless tubes.



F. E. SIMPKINS. APPARATUS FOR ROLLING SEAMLESS TUBES. APPLICATION FILED APR. 11. 1911. RENEWED 001.23, 1914.

Patented June 1, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

WITNESSES F. E. SIMPKINS.

APPARATUS FOR ROLLING SEAMLESS TUBES. APPLICATION FILED APR.17, 1911. RENEWED OCT. 23. 1914.

l 9 1 1 A25 Patented J 11116 1, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2- F. E. SIMPKINS. APPARATUS FOR ROLLING SEAMLESS TUBES. APPLICATION FILED APR. 17, I911- RENEWED OCT-23,1914. l llfigfio Patented June 1, 1915.

i 3 SHEETS SHEET 3- LMLL425.

metal by a kneading,

FRANK E. IMPKINS 01? YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

errsm'rns For.

g Specification of Letters Ifatent.

SEAMLESS TUBES.

Patented June il, i915.

Application filed April 17, 1911, Serial No. 621,655. Renewed. October 23, 1914. Serial No. 868,834..

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1,.FRAN E. SIMBKINS, a resident of Youngstown, in the county of ll/Iahoning and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Rolling Seamless Tubes, ofwhich the following is'a specification.

This application is, in part, a continuation of my application Serial No. 502,266, filed June 15, 1909. One object is to provide for so manipulating the metal while in the roll pass in which it is pierced as to prevent slipping and thus avoid the injurious effects of friction.

A further purpose is to Secure the necessary rolling action with the least or shortest extent of rolling contact, with the active portion of the pass and the mandrel so arranged as to keep the metal free from distorting strains. 7

The invention contemplates gripping the surface-displacing action opposite the mandrel point, and also preferably in advance of and at the rear of the mandrel point when the resistance of the metal and its tendency to slip are greatest. This gripping and kneading toughens the metal and improves its quality without injuriously disarranging the fiber, the roll surface irregularities being of such form as to indent and knead the metal by a displacing action due to pressure as distinguished fromfcuttin'g or shearing.

A further characteristic of the invention due to manipulating the metal as described is that the tube emerges from the pass only slightly larger than the mandrel so that subsequent elongation to reduce the diameter, common in the art as now racticed, is avoided. The work is prefera 1y so performed that only a relatively small amount of smooth rolling is necessary, and this is confined to the last portion of the pass for smoothing out irregularities resulting from kneading and expanding the metal, and for. polishing the tube.

In practising the invention the axes of the rolls are arranged out of parallel and in lines which cross each other, as is common in cross rolling, and the arrangement is such that the axial lines cross in the diverging portion of the pass and in advance of the point of the piercingmandrel and where the metal is firmly grlpped by the surfaceirr g larities of the rolls so that theh ld 1 roll ends may be variously ispositive where the strain is greatest and sllppmg is positively prevented.

In the accompanying drawingsI show sevand the portion of the metal operated upon in the roll pass, together with portions of theroll surfaces. Fig. 3 is a top plan of the rolls each formed with parallel grooves. Fig. 4 is a similar view of rolls each formed with a single spiral groove. Fig. 5 is a view in top plan showing the rolls formed with dimple-like depressions. Fig. 6 is a view partly in V wherein one roll element is of wheel form with its inner periphery surfaced to coiiperate with a roll, and Fig. 7 is a view of the same partly in top plan and partly in section. Figs. 8 and 9 are details illustrating the depressions shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 In each of the several adaptations, with the exception of that shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the opposing rolls of each set are of the same size and shape, with their spindles disposed obliquely to the roll pass and to each other to eifect cross rolling and obtain the blank-feeding action, well known in the art.

In the adaptation of Figs. 1 and 2, the rolls A are of general frusto-conical form, their spindles B being disposed as described relatively to the roll pass. The ends C of the rollsat the pass inlet may be variously shaped as they have no effect in the rolling operation other than to facilitate entrance o the blank into the roll pass. As here shown, said portions C are dished or concaved so that practically no gripping or rolling action takes place in advance of the billet or blank X entering between the 1rregular surfaces of the rolls. As the purpose is to avoid friction-developing engagement between the rolls and the metal said formed to facilitate guiding or directing the blank to the active portion of on it. I

The roll indentations or irregularlties shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are in the form of opposite or crossing spiral grooves Dwhich form relalevation and partly in sectionthe pass without acting v tively long and narrow diamond-shaped projections E, the groovesbeing formed only with rounded walls and corners, a r pt edges being purposely avoided so that the gripping of the metal results is a surface displacing, pressing or kneading action, as distinguished from abruptly cutting into the surface and severing the fiber, as would be the case if the grooves were formed with sharp edges or corners. With the grooves D crossing each other as shown, the surface of the blank is subjected to a constantly changing displacement or shifting surface kneading all the While it is in contact with the grooved portions of the rolls, the relatively long and narrow projections E, in somewhat staggered relation as a result of the spiral grooving, accomplishing this shifting kneading in a most effective way.

Projections on the plane of the paper of the axial lines of the rolls are indicated, re

.spectively, at a and b, Fig. 1. These lines cross each other and also intersect axial lines o of the mandrel forwardly of the piercing point of mandrel F, as indicated at G,,F1 g. 2, and this intersection is referred to herein as the crossing point or point of intersectlon of the roll axes. By this means the metal 1s positively gripped when encountering the greatest resistance which latter occurs where it is first divided by the point of the mandrel. This resistance has in many instances resulted in such friction as to produce a much higher heat than that developed 1n the metal preparatory to the rolling operatlon, and such excessive heat injures the metal and destroys the "mandrel. By positlvely gripping the metal where 1t encounters the strongest resistance it is fed to the mandrel positively and without shppmg. At the same time, this gripping action, lndentlng as it does the surface of the metal, results in beneficially working or the same and toughening it without m urlng 1ts fiber.

While the lines of the grooved portion of the pass are preferably nearly parallel, there is appreciable divergence mwardly from the beginning of said irregular portlon, and whilethe divergence is not marked, still the lines are preferably such that the roll faces 1m H do not engage the tubular blank to any appreciable extent after the latter has passed the largest diameter 7 of the mandrel. The result is that the engagement of the blank by the smooth portions of the rolls and by the mandrel is only sufficient to fully d 1stend the blank, with the engagement mamtained only for such distance from the termination of the irregular surfaces as to cause all of the surface depressions of the blank to disappear. With the blank thus fully distended'and its surfaces smoothed the engagement is discontinued and the finished tube is subjected to no twisting and distorting strains' At the same time it emerges from the pass fully and accurately formed and with its surfaces highly polished by the brief 5 though effective action of the smooth portions of the rolls immediately following their each other, though the final groove K may be spaced from the other grooves, as shown. Inthis arrangement the gripping action is quite effective, though the kneading of the metal is not so active as with the crossed spiral grooves of Figs; 1 and 2. And with the final groove K spaced from the other grooves the metal is gripped as is necessary inwardly from the pass inlet, much of the surface irregularity being smoothed out before groove K is reached so that elimination of the irregularity formed by said groove is the principal work performed by the active smooth portions of the rolls outwardly from-said grooves.

In Fig. 4:, each roll has a single spiral groove L, and the resulting gripping and kneading action is much the same as with the grooves of Figs. '1' and 2, though the gripping may not be so effective, nor the eading so active.

In each of the designs, Figs. 1 to 4, the

roll grooves are deepest at the pass inlet and become shallower as they approach and pass the point of the mandrel, as shown in Fig. 2, so that the surface irregularities in the blank decrease in depth inwardly from the pass inlet, and less smooth rolling is necessary in the final portion of the pass than would be required if the full depth of the grooves were maintained throughout.

In the form shown in Fig. 5, the roll indentations consist of dimple-like depressidns M which may be variously arranged around the rolls, but preferably in rows, with each depression merging into the adjacent depressions, and with the rows separated by a rib N which is of wave-form due to the staggering of the depressions in the adjacent rows. Depressions of this form in connection with the irregular rib separating adj acent rows causes the desirable gripping and eading action, displacing the surface of the metal in a most effective manner without rupturing its fiber. In this adaptation the roll irregularities are located at the beginning of the active portion of the pass but do not extend backwardly over the rolls as far as the forms first described and hencethe smooth portions are of greater area. However, the metal-displacing engagement of the dimple depressions is so effective that friction-developing slipping does not occur at any point where the blank is engaged by the roll faces. 7 I In the adaptation of Figs. 6 and 7, a single frusto-conical roll P is shown in operative relation with the faced inner periphery of the ring-like wheel Q, provided with gear teeth R for drivin the same, the wheel being supported on suita le rollers S which mav be the blank being operated upon, that non- 8'0 aaaaeae mounted in any convenient frame or support, not shown. In this adaptation the inner periphery of ring Q is so surfaced as to act the same as a roll of conventional form, the action of the metal in the pass formed by the roll and ring being the same as when two rolls of like form are used. 'While I have illustrated this adaptation in connection with dimple-like depressions M the rolling surfaces may be variously depressed or indented.

In each of the several adaptations I refer to rotate the mandrel along with the blank, and by preference at the same speed, thereby minimizing strains that would be set up inthe metal if forced over either a fixed mandrel or a mandrel rotating oppositely to the metal.

The absence of slipping hereinbefore referred to and characterizing the operation of each of the disclosed forms of apparatus for practising the invention is due to the fact that the increase of diameter of the working faces of the rolling bodies, for instance as shown in Fig. 2, is in such exact ratio to the divergence in the same direction of the pass, and consequently in like ratio to the exterior diameter of the portion of slipping rolling contact with the metal is maintained throughout the rolling operation. Slipping, distortion and strain resulting from roll diameter variations which are disproportionate to variations in diameter of the portion of the blank being rolled are wholly avoided. The positive gripping resulting from the irregularities in the rolling surfaces overcomes any tendency of the rolls to slip due to the resistance of the piercing mandrel, andthe Working or kneading of the surface of the metal resulting from such gripping improves" its quality without injuring its fiber.

I claim 1. In the manufacture of seamless tubes,

frotatable pass-forming bodies mounted to provide a pass which diverges toward its outlet end with the body surfaces constituting the pass formed with irregularities having rounded surfaces which grip and knead the metal without injuring its fiber, and a piercing mandrel within the pass.

2. In the manufacture of seamless tubes,

rotatable pass-forming bodies mounted toprovide a pass which diverges toward its outlet end with the surfaces of the bodies at the pass inlet and for 'adistance inwardlytherefrom formed with irregularities having rounded surfaces which grip and lmead the metal without injuring its fiber, and a pierc- 'ing mandrel within the pass.

3. In the manufacture of seamless tubes,

' rotatable bodies mounted to form a pass as the surfaces of the bodies at the pass inlet which diverges toward its outlet end with formed with metal kneading irregularities, and a piercing mandrel in the pass with its point located inwardly from the pass inlet. I V

4. In the manufacture of seamless tubes, rotatable pass-forming bodies having their axes disposed obliquely to each other and to the axis of the pass, the axial lines of the rolls crossing each other between the ends of the pass, and a mandrel in the pass with its point located rearwardly from the crossing of the roll axes.

5. In the manufacture of seamless tubes, rotatable pass-forming bodies having their axes disposed obliquely to each other and to the pass axis, with the axial lines of the rolls crossing each other intermediate the ends of the pass, the bodies formed with metal kneading irregularities, and a mandrel in the pass with its point located rearwardly from the beginning of such irregularities.

6. In the manufacture of seamless tubes, rotatable pass-forming bodies having their axes disposed obliquely to each other and to the pass axis, the surfaces of the bodies being shaped to form a pass which diverges toward its outlet end and with said surfaces formed with metal kneading irregularities, and a piercing mandrel in the pass with its point located rearwardlv from the beginning of said irregularities.

7. In the manufacture of seamless tubes, rotatable pass forming bodies having their axes disposed obliquely to each other and to the pass axis, the pass forming surfaces smooth for a distance inwardly from the pass outlet and with metal kneading irregularities in the surfaces between such smooth portions and the pass inlet, and a mandrel in the pass between both the smooth and the irregular portions of the rolls.

8. In the manufacture of seamless tubes,

rotatable pass-forming bodies having smooth portions inwardly from the pass outlet, a

' smooth portions being formed with metal kneading irregularities.

9. In the manufacture of seamless tubes, rotatable pass-forming bodies having their surfaces formed with metal-kneading irregularities which decreasein depth toward the outlet end of the pass, and a piercing mandrel having its point located within the ass. p 10. In the manufacture of seamless tubes, rotatable bodies shaped to provide a pass which diverges toward its outlet end and with said surfaces formed with metal-kneading irregularities which decrease in depth toward the pass outlet, and a piercing mandrel within the pass.

11. In the manufacture of seamless tubes, rotatable pass-forming bodies having their surfaces smooth for a distance inwardly from the outlet end of the pass and with the body surfaces inwardly from said smooth portions formed with metal-kneading irregularities which decrease in depth toward said smooth portions of the passforming surfaces, and a piercing mandrel located within the pass.

12. In the manufacture of seamless tubes, rotatable bodies shaped to provide a pass which diverges toward its outlet end, said surfaces being smooth for a distance inwardly from the outlet end of the pass, and the surfaces inwardlv from said smooth portions being formed with metal-kneading irregularities which decrease in depth toward said smooth portions, and a piercing mandrel located within the pass.

13. In the manufacture of seamless tubes, rotatable bodies mounted to provide a pass, the bodies being formed with irregularities which knead the metal Without injuring its fiber, and a piercing mandrel having its point located within the pass with the metal gripped by the irregularities of the passforming bodies when being forced over the mandrel.

14. In the manufacture of seamless tubes, rotatable bodies mounted to provide a pass which diverges from its inlet to its outlet, the bodies being formed with irregularities which knead the surface of the metal without injuring its fiber, and a piercing mandrel within the pass.

15. In the manufacture of seamless tubes, rotatable bodies mounted to provide a pass which diverges from its inlet to its outlet, at the pass inlet and for a distance inwardly therefrom the bodies being formed with irregularities which knead the surface of'the metal without injuring its fiber, the roll bodies between said irregularities and the pass outlet being smooth for smooth-rolling the pierced metal, and a piercing mandrel within the pass.

16. ,In the manufacture of seamless tubes, rotatable bodies mounted to provide a pass of minimum width at its inlet, at the pass outlet and for a distance inwardly therefrom the bodies being smooth for smooth rolling the pierced metal, the surfaces of the bodies between said smooth portions and the pass inlet being formed with irregularities which grip and knead the surface of the metal while forcing it over the mandrel, and a pointed piercing mandrel located within the pass with its point in the plane of said metal kneading and gripping irregularities and with the mandrel provided with a smooth portion on which the smooth surfaces of the pass-forming bodies roll the pierced metal.-

17. In the manufacture of seamless tubes, rotatable-bodies mounted to provide a pass of minimum width at its inlet, at the pass outlet and for a distance inwardly therefrom the bodies being smooth for smooth rolling 7 the pierced metal, the surfaces of the bodies between said smooth portions and the-pass inlet being formed with irregularities which grip and knead the surface of the metal while forcing it over the mandrel, said ir- 75 regularities consisting of alternate grooves and pro ections with the grooves decreasing in depth progressively toward the pass outwhich grip and knead the metal while forc- 35 ing it over the mandrel, the irregularities consisting of alternately arranged grooves and projections with the grooves decreasing in depth progressively toward the pass outlet, and a piercing mandrel within the pass.

19. In the manufacture of seamless tubes, rotatable bodies having their working faces arranged to form a pass which diverges throughout its length with the working faces of the bodies of increasing diameter in the direction of-the pass divergence, and a mandrel within the pass.

20. In the manufacture of seamless tubes, rotatable bodies having their working faces arranged to form a pass which diverges toward its outlet, said working faces being of increasing diameter toward the pass outlet with the increase in diameter in such ratio to the pass divergence as to maintain nonslipping contact with the metal, and a mandrel within the pass.

21. In the manufacture of seamless tubes rotat'ablebodies having their working faces arranged to form a pass which diverges throughout its length, said workin being of increasing diameter toward t e pass outlet with the increase in diameter in such. ratio to the pass divergence as tomaintain non-slipping rolling contact with the metal throughout the rolling operation, and a 115 mandrel within the pass.

22. In the manufacture of seamless tubes, rotatable bodies arranged to form a pass which diverges toward its outlet with the working faces of the bodies of increasinglgq diameter in the direction of increasing width of thepass, faces formed with metal gripping and kneading irregularities, and a mandrel within the pass.

23. In the manufacture of-seamless tubes, 12a

rotatable bodies arranged to form a pass which diverges toward its outlet with the working faces of the bodies of increasing diameter in the direction of increasing faces width of the pass, the working faces beingli'o working faces of the bodies arranged to v 10 form a pass which diverges throughout its length and with the pass-forming surfaces of the bodies of increasing diameter in the direction of increase of width of the pass, and a mandrel within the pass.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature 15 in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK E. SIMPHNS. Witnesses:

B. O. SHULMAN, ANNA BLACK. 

